tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74283736308069783982024-03-13T02:46:59.296-07:00Avi Rokah's karateKarate as taught by Sensei Nishiyama, adhering to budo principles, developing fighting skills as means to seeking endless learning and expansion of human potentials.Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-35723110516968848502019-07-13T21:48:00.002-07:002019-07-13T21:49:35.472-07:00Developing Kime (shocking power)<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c0504d; font-size: 20.0pt;">Developing Kime<br />Using mitts, heavy bag or makiwara.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<o:p> Hitting the bag, the mitts or the makiwara, should be done at least 3,4 times a week for 10-20 minutes, it is a great and necessary way to develop your kime and impact power<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;"> </span>and to get feedback on your quality of movement.</o:p></div>
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<o:p> There are few things to consider:</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">First</b> be careful of tensing too soon, that will kill your speed, kind of like driving with the brakes on. We need maximum speed and momentum than pressure/contraction at impact. When I hit the bag or makiwara I let the contraction happen as I hit the bag, we need to reach the target at maximum speed, undue tension before contact will slow us down.<br />I let the bag decelerate my punch, which results in ecentric contraction, which is the muscles are lengthening while contraction, muscles are working to direction of technique.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Second</b>, Sensei Nishiyama gave me very useful tip when hitting the makiwara, at impact I want to feel the reaction power coming back to my center (low stomach), rather than to the elbow or shoulders. That is a good feedback, that will tell me if I am aligned properly and/or if the contraction sequence is optimal, and if the technique was initiated properly from the body center. It also tells me that the whole body momentum is meeting the target.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Third</b>, I like to think of pouring the energy from my body through the fist to the bag or mitt. This is helpful, because some people tense in a way that braces and “chokes” the energy, and energy is absorbed into our own body, this should be avoided.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fourth</b>, don’t push, it is not about muscular power, push is power delivered over long period and is ineffective. Use total body snap, your body should be like a whip from the center out. We need to teach the nervous system to recruit more motor units in shortest time.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fifth</b>, when you hit, nothing moves externally for a moment, yet inside momentum does not stop, kind of like a car crash, the sharper and more at once the car stops, the more momentum will the passengers inside will receive. Use the mitt or bag to understand how long does it take to transfer the full momentum to target, because kime should not be any longer or shorter than that, once energy is transferred the reaction should be Zanshin with the next breath.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sixth</b>, at contact have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a strong stance, to deliver the energy from. Remember, you cannot shoot a cannon from a canoe. At the same token, you should also be able to deliver power of one leg, even though it is not optimal it is sometimes necessary so I spend some time hitting from one leg stance, especially during combination techniques.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seventh</b>, develop single techniques power first and than combination, you should be able to make 2,3 or 4 techniques with full speed and kime and completely relax in between. If one does not relax instantly from kime, the following action is likely to be stiff, pushing and lacking snap. Use exhalation to relax and use the energy from one kime to next action.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Avoid the temptation to use top heavy power, don’t go after end results and muscle the techniques, make sure each action is from feet and ground reaction, if you cannot do it at first, slow down, coordination is more important than power at first. When moving from the feet it will be easier to relax the top muscles.</o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Powerful technique should appear relax, give up power at first to be powerful in the long run.</span><!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-4485154830806102052015-08-06T16:13:00.001-07:002015-08-06T16:17:12.165-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Efficient technique and injury prevention go hand in hand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The principles that make karate technique effortlessly powerful, will also keep you injury free. That is one of the beauties of karate! </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In karate we are striving for the “beauty of one finishing blow technique”, and also, I believe, that we are striving to train and keep improving till old age.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those 2 concepts are not at all contradictory, at least not in Shotokan, on the contrary, a good, effective technique should have all the same qualities that will reduce stress from our joints and spine, will keep our spine and joints stable, strong, pliable and healthy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, the principles of karate technique are in accord with the principles of physical therapy and injury prevention. as well as peak performance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t forget, exercise is stress, only that we want to have a stress on the body that is constructive and not destructive.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Technique is chain reaction from the ground up</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, if our technique is initiated from the feet, we will not move the extremities in isolation, the whole body will cooperate, technique will be more powerful, there will not be extraneous or contradictory energy in the technique, yet there will be less stress on the shoulders or hips.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When technique is produced from the arms or legs, the technique is labored, weaker, even when it feels strong and there will be increased stress on specific joints and on the spine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Optimal posture</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> allows for effortless control of body dynamics, and the full range of muscles contraction/relaxation, and for smooth transmission of forces through joints.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This same optimal posure prevent space from the spine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, research shows that when the lumbar spine is flexed it is 40% weaker in producing force, and more susceptible to injury.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a head forward posture, the weight of the head create constantly more stress on the lumbar spine, and at the same time, the thoracic extensors are lengthened and weakened, and forces cannot transfer smoothly from the body center (sacrum) to the arms, through the thoracic spine and shoulder joint as should be.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Muscles should act on a joint should be in optimal balance (force couple), When the muscles around the shoulder (or any joint) are imbalanced, the chest and anterior deltoids are short and tight and the scapular adductors and posterior deltoids are over lengthened and weaken, the joint is not in moving in its optimal axis of rotation, force transfer is not efficient and premature wear and tear is inevitable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Optimal sequence of body segments</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as well as sequence of muscles firing timing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to achieve maximum force in a technique within a given space, each body segment should be used to the fullest, and than next segment smoothly add force. for example in reverse punch, feet through legs, hip rotation, shoulder extend, than elbow extension than forearm snap at the elbow. In addition, force is transferring at the joints, therefore, each joint should be stable center to allow full transfer of energy from one segment to next.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This same principle of producing force is key in preventing injuries, and stress on particular joint, if one joint is “skipped” or lacking in range of motion, the joint above or below will have to compensate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Internal muscles firing timing</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In karate we want to move from the center out, in order to move from the center out we must have a stable center first.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we say center we mean 3 fingers below the navel toward the spine, which is the sacrum area. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The center has to be firm</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> while the bigger muscles around the center, which produce the most force, has to be relaxed and activated according to the task.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The smaller muscles around the sacrum and lumbar spine has to be activated before the bigger muscles and also in the right amount, according to the stabilization need. The stabilization needed is different for walking or for sprinting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research shows that in healthy individuals the smaller muscles around the sacrum and lumbar spine (transversus abdominus, multifidus, pelvic floor and diaphragm) were firing 30-50 milliseconds before arm movement, and 110-130 milliseconds before leg movement, subconsciously, this is called “feed forward mechanism”.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For people who had delayed or no activation, there was high likelihood of back pain, since the spine was not stabilized and protected against the movement of the arms and legs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This activation can be learned and this is what we do in karate, activating the center first and connecting the center to the extremities than moving from the center out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gluts</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those are of the biggest muscles in our body, and are responsible for stabilizing the back, producing force, and transmitting force from the legs through the sacrum to the upper body.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gluts tend to be a “lazy” muscle and is dormant for many people. When the gluts are weak there is more likelihood of back pain, and weak technique.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In karate we stress engaging the glutes in every technique, I used to return from Sensei Nishiyama’s class with purple buttocks, and had to sleep on my stomach.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Full range of movement in technique</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in Shotokan we train, at least in the basics to the full functional range of each technique for many reasons, such as conditioning the muscles to the full range, easy to learn proper coordination through big action, and if you control the big, you control everything in between, so the transition to smaller action in application is easier.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most injuries happen in the outer ranges, and by developing control and stability in full range we become more resilient to injuries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The body center is the engine</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Technique is initiated from a firm center using ground reaction, the body center is also important in transmitting forces from the feet to the arms and vice versa. If the center is unstable, forces from ground reaction will dissipate and will not transfer to technique, as well as stresses will be put on the lumbar spine and sacrum. Firm, properly activated stabilizers around the low spine are important in order to alleviate stress from the spine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the spine is stable, it also serves as an anchor for the bigger core muscles, and those muscles can function more optimally.</span></div>
Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-59137844229905441422015-07-17T10:22:00.001-07:002015-07-17T10:22:15.628-07:00Strong technique - fluid transitions.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not a contradiction, but rather compliment each other.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Shotokan karate we strive for the beauty of one finishing blow technique (Todome), one of the unique aspects of our karate is kime (mental and physical focus), or how to to deliver the total energy of the whole body, in the shortest instant, to intended line of energy at impact.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shotokan karate is known for powerful technique, at the same time when making strong kime it is easy to lose the smooth transition and fluidity. This is dangerous because if we miss or not finish the fight with one technique, than there will be a qio, space for the opponent to catch us, or at the least, we could miss the chance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The kata stresses the importance of smooth transition after kime, most of the techniques in kata are from kime to next action, and not from kime into freestyle kamae, and this is because of the danger at the moment of kime, since if I am at good distance for my technique so is my opponent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong kime does not have to contradict smoothness, moreover, properly executed kime should be the best condition and starting point for next technique.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are 2 most important elements at the moment of kime: 1. Pressure to floor. 2. Total body contraction, in shortest time to line of technique.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both those elements help us with force production and delivery, transfer of total energy in shortest time, shocking power.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But at the same time, pressure to floor is potential energy, and contraction is potential energy as well, since muscles are like springs.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we make kime and deliver energy, we are recharging at the same time. The more complete the kime the better the preparation.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using the breath, we control the pressure to floor and contraction, and using the breath, we can control when to release the energy we store within kime to next action.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The breath is the trigger, the muscles follow the breath.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One idea is to sometimes practice, not thinking of pressure and contraction for kime, but rather, think of pressure and contraction as preparation for next technique.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This kind of training will also reduce excess tension from the kime, and will make both the kime and the preparation/transition, more effective.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the reasons for loss of fluidity is too much tension at kime in the wrong places. Yes, contraction is an important element in kime, but it has to be the right contraction, complete, yet without excess, from the inside out, and it has to have elasticity within it, it cannot appear “stiff”. (this is a discussion for another day).</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you can make strong kime and smooth, fluid transition, your kata should be without holes, an on looker should not be able to find space to attack you in the kata.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Tai Chi Chuan they say that at the limit of softness come hardness, and at the limit of hardness come softness, this is a great way to describe the smooth transition from time to movement and vice versa.</span></div>
<br />Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-90547639741380102122015-05-25T15:26:00.001-07:002015-05-25T15:26:38.822-07:00Mind like Ice, Spirit like Fire<b id="docs-internal-guid-daaf5c5e-8d2b-5f9e-ea0b-c8f461513b93" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-daaf5c5e-8d2b-5f9e-ea0b-c8f461513b93" style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 108pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-daaf5c5e-8d2b-5f9e-ea0b-c8f461513b93" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-daaf5c5e-8d2b-5f9e-ea0b-c8f461513b93" style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is one of my favorite Budo quotes, describing the optimal mindset for fighting/self defense. One must keep the mind calm and the spirit strong, however the mind must not be carried away by the spirit and vice versa.</span></div>
</b><br />
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other day in class, during a timing drill I mentioned the importance of this mental mode in order to apply techniques effectively. Michael asked me after class, “how do we develop this kind of mental mode?” The answer is complex, some people are innately more calm under pressure, and some people naturally have a stronger spirit, but karate gives us tools to develop those attributes. There is no magic, but rather a process that is already built in to our training method.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hard training makes confidence, confidence allows for stable emotions.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mind like ice means stable emotions. When we train hard, we develop confidence in our technique's effectiveness, and confidence makes stable emotion.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is not only hard training but how we train:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feet make top technique, action from feet, feet are the “boss”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Through kata and basics, we learn to initiate any action from the feet and to allow the feet to “make decisions.” We follow the opponent’s rhythm with the feet, react with the feet, fake with the feet, and seize the moment with the feet.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So rather than our brain making decisions, the feet do, preventing over-information, hesitation and doubt, which in turn allows for stable emotions. Of course the feet cannot actually make decisions, but allowing the feet to react allows us to trust our feeling, intuition, and experience. </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The brain is engaged but is not over analyzing and interfering which would block us from seeing information and subtle cues that are hard to see if we get stuck in details.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a person does not have the skill of making the movement from the ground up, we cannot even begin to talk about reacting from the feet or the feet “making decisions”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making action from the feet is a very physical skill that sets the optimal mental mode.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath from low abdominals controls the body center and maximizes ground reaction forces</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by applying pressure and twisting to the ground. Our main power is from the body center by means of body dynamics and internal muscles action, but this power is only effective when ground reaction forces are maximized.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At an advanced level, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there is only breath and intention</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. All the details will happen by themselves, leaving our brain free from those details that keep us busy as beginners.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, the breath from the body center interacts with the feet to maximize use of ground reaction. It is really the breath that initiates the feet and allows the feet to be the “boss.” It is the breath that makes reaction and initiates our techniques.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the breath rises to the chest, we cannot controls our body center or feet. This happens when we are over excited and lose stable emotions, but in if we can keep the breath in the center it allows us to keep stable emotions and remain mentally as well as physically centered.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is through basic training and gradual increase of stimuli in kumite that we learn to keep our breath in the center, and our body center as the decision center.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eyes back</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, is a postural direction, which has both mental and physical implications. Mentally it allows the eyes to “monitor” and “observe”, so the brain is in a “wide perception” mode rather than “narrow focus” mode. This mode allows the mind to be like “ice”, emotionally stable and calm. It also allows us to give everything to the technique, to have “no mind in the technique”, avoiding the alternative of holding back or hesitating. </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong spirit has to be distinguished from emotions</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, it is will-power, determination, and commiting, giving everything in each action.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being able to give everything in a technique is both a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff9900; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mental and physical attribute</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It takes specific training to teach the nervous system to recruit maximum motor units in shortest time. In order to achieve that we need some periods of maximal speed and intensity training. We have to teach the muscles to relax in order to achieve maximal contraction, the goal is maximal rate and range of muscles contraction relaxation.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Optimal form, posture, and alignment are crucial to preventing injuries as we develop higher intensity. It is when we give all the breath that we are giving everything mentally and physically. </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we practice basic techniques we teach the whole body to cooperate to one purpose, but at the same time by coordinating the intention and breath with the outer action and muscles action we learn to give our mind away, to not hold back anything in our technique.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning to have our full intention, breath and muscles 100 %, is much harder than just coordinating the body. </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sensei Nishiyama used to persist on giving 100% in every technique, if you train one hour or five, six hours. If you train many hours, obviously not all your techniques will be explosive, but even when you go slow, there should be full intention and purpose in every action.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Becoming sloppy will make your spirit weak, while being present will develop a strong spirit. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also believe that training hard and never giving up, overcoming whatever obstacles life puts in front of us, is a big part in developing this spirit. I believe in giving everything, in the right moment, regardless of outcome.</span></div>
<a href="mailto:avirokah1@gmail.com">avirokah1@gmail.com</a></b>Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-34554019058430985362014-11-03T16:18:00.002-08:002014-11-03T16:22:32.783-08:00Alignment, health, performance<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">The way you move and align yourself will influence weather or not you will have musculoskeletal pain as you grow older and how severe.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">It is also important in how good of an athlete you will be, you cannot put yourself in weird alignments and expect optimal performance.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dr. Shirley Sahrmann (Washington University Physical Therapy)</span></span>Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-31133231591823573192014-09-14T08:20:00.002-07:002014-09-14T08:20:56.675-07:00Does Repetition Make Perfect?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the characteristics of karate training is repetitions of basics, Sensei Nishiyama used to start the class with hundreds of kizami/gyaku zuki followed by hundreds of kicks.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some researchers believe that it takes about 10,000 repetitions in any art or sport to achieve mastery or expert level of technique.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repetitive practice makes the difference between a world class athlete and the rest.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With each repetition we are wiring the nervous system, creating connections and patterns, and the more repetition the more myelin, which is an insulation substance, covers those pathways (Axons). Myelin allows for signals to travel faster and more efficiently through the pathways. Much like a broadband internet connection vs dial up.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The faster and more precise those signals travel through pathways, the more ability to accomplish complex tasks.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a well train person the myelin allows the signals to travel through the pathways up to hundred times faster.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The karate person neural pathways for specific skills are turning into superhighways through repetition training.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem is if the repetitions are not quality repetitions, if we repeat the wrong way, we are creating the wrong circuitry, and once our nervous system is wired it will be more difficult to undo and relearn.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If one is to repetitively initiate techniques from the arms rather from feet and body center, if one is getting used to chest breathing rather than abdominal breath, or if one is consistently moving from a faulty posture, it will take a lot more effort and awareness to undo and make good techniques.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know it from my own experience, since high school I was training 3 hours a day, doing lots of repetition, but without guidence or feedback, just imitating the form. When I came to study with Sensei Nishiyama, after the first lesson he told me to put a white belt on, and for the next 7 months, 6 hours a day, I was just correcting, undoing my bad habits, til he awarded me a black belt again.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see if you have the best hardware, the best computer, it will function and give only as good results as the software you install in it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like wise, no matter how fit and athletic one is, if the quality of the patterns installed in the nervous system is low, one can never use their full potentials.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our purpose in karate is to make most efficient use of the human body and mind, the whole body should cooperate to one direction in each technique. As sensei Nishiyama used to say: “What is the points of having 8 cylinder car if you can use only 2 cylinders? must use all 8”.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is why understanding the theory is important, theory is like roadmap, it gives us direction and we must find a way to receive feedback.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Merely imitating the form is not sufficient, form is symbol of principles, it is meant for us to dig in and discover the underlying principles behind karate techniques, and then install those principles into our nervous system through repetitions.</span>Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-87986475755091962362014-08-06T16:01:00.001-07:002014-08-06T16:01:34.867-07:00Bypass the brain in karate and in soccer. Study shows Neymar is “bypassing the brain” as we teach in karate.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My good friend from Lithuania, Modestas Tursa, sent me an interesting article about the brain activity of soccer star Neymar during complex movements.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In karate we constantly talk about “bypassing the brain”, using the breath to make decisions (along with past experiences and proper wiring of the nervous system).</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We stress that the brain has to be quiet during the many decisions and lot of information that we have to process in very short time.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judgement, analyzing in intense situations when a lot of factors are involved and decisions has to be made quickly cause doubt, hesitation and conflict in ourselves.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The brain monitors, is aware of all the actions and the information, but once strategy is decided and interaction starts, the choices of action are subconscious, which is the only way to flow and be ahead of the opponent, leading the action, it is as the action is done for us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It is done for us” is not magic, it is experience and proper movement patterns acquired through quality training, along with the intuition we “allow” to take over by avoiding brain interference. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This low activity of the brain is beneficial to any sport when many decisions have to be made in a short time. I do not believe that in soccer quiet brain is taught systematically, but in karate the method is passed from generation to generation, we have a system by which anyone can attain this state of mind, I believe.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brazilian superstar Neymar's</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> brain activity while dancing past opponents is less than 10 percent the level of amateur players, suggesting he plays as if on autopilot, according to Japan</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ese neurologists.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.636363766410134; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Results of brain scans conducted on Neymar in February this year indicated minimal cerebral function when he rotated his ankle and point to the Barcelona striker's wizardry being uncannily natural.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.636363766410134; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"From MRI images we discovered Neymar's brain activity to be less than 10 percent of an amateur player," researcher Eiichi Naito told AFP on Friday.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naito concluded in his paper that the test results "provide valuable evidence that the football brain of Neymar recruits very limited neural resources in the motor-cortical foot regions during foot movements".</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naito told Japan's Mainichi Shimbun newspaper: "Reduced brain activity means less burden which allows (the player) to perform many complex movements at once. We believe this gives him the ability to execute his various shimmies."</span></div>
Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-23441413589319347162014-07-04T19:14:00.001-07:002014-07-04T19:14:08.607-07:00Body Mechanics, but First a Little bit of Physics: By David Schames<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
(David Schames is my student for the last 10 years, since he was 16, very smart and also powerful, we have had interesting discusiions about karate principles, so I asked him to put his thoughts in writing, and here is part 1) </div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nature often follows predictable paterns. Here is a formula that describes “The Big One”: F=ma</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The equation “Force equals mass times acceleration” is useful because of a key pattern in nature.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is no such thing as a force in nature and it cannot be measured directly with any tool. Force is an extremely useful manmade concept to keep track of what is happening in the natural world we live in. There is a pattern in nature that when two objects interact and one changes velocity the other object changes velocity in a predictable way. If object 1 interacts with object 2 and experiences a change in velocity, (delta V1), then object 2 will change velocity in an opposite direction proportional to the ratio of the mass of object 1 to the mass of object 2. The change in velocity is known as acceleration, and the equation is M1 x A1 = -M2 x A2. Because of this pattern in nature, we call mass times acceleration a force to better keep track of what is happening when objects interact with each other.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The human body is designed to function in the natural world and our bodies are designed to move, and change the things around us. The better a man’s posture is, the more able he is to move efficiently and change the world around him. In general, our legs interact with the floor and move our body, and our hands grab things we want to move and apply force moving our center as we move the object we are grabbing. The bigger a man is, the more he can accelerate an object he is grabbing before the object and the body is at a distance not ideal for applying force using muscles.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In karate we position our body position so that when the striking fist decelerates during a striking technique; our hands will decelerate our whole body and therefore resist decelerating itself. We can apply force from the ground to our center pushing the center in the direction that we intend on striking. When the strike connects with a vital target on the opponent, our fist decelerates relative to the rest of our body and our muscle transfer the forces in a safe way. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile from the opponents perspective, the vital organ that was struck accelerates relative to the rest of the opponents body and the vital organ transfers the forces through to the rest of the body in an unsafe way causing damage. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If the force pushing the center forward equals the force pushing the center back, the center does not change velocity and the body can stay in an ideal distance to apply force. This position is also the ideal starting position for the next move. This is what we strive for during kime. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The energy needed to stop a moving mass equals ½ M x V^2 so if the center is moving fast, and is completely decelerated to zero velocity when the fist hits a target, then the energy delivered into the target is proportional to the mass of the center and proportional to the square of the velocity of the center. The fist hits the target and slows down the body center over the time of the collision. At this same time, the feet can push the floor and accelerate the body center adding more energy that is delivered into the target.</span></div>
Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-50853422528864815562014-05-31T09:37:00.005-07:002014-06-07T18:38:07.214-07:00FORM AND FORMLESS?<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Form is limitation, a necessary limitation, therefore ultimately we should be free of form. Being free of form mentally and physically will allow us to flow, adopt, and apply our techniques within any space, angle or instant in time, and from any starting position.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With that said, if a beginner starts training without form, they will not likely learn to use the body effectively or develop good timing.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Form is a vehicle to achieve no form, but with the principles and skills that allow one to be effective.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ultimately, we want to be like a child who's mind and body are free from patterns, habits and preconceived idea, yet with the skills that make our techniques and timing effective.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It is true with other knowledge as well, a child mind is free and unpatterned, but once the child learn and accumulate knowledge, they grow up to becomes less flexible and more dogmatic. The engineer that is creative and able to innovate, is the one who is able to have balance between knowledge and a mind that is free and formless like a child.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I heard about interesting experiment, when preschoolers were asked to find as many uses as possible to paper clips, 98% of them perform at a level of genius, the same kids 2 years later, as they became more schooled and knowledgeble, became less creative and 2 years later even worst. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The highest level martial artist is the one that digested the principles but keep a mind of a beginner or a child.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Strict Form</b></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In karate we are very strict about precise form, especially at the novice level.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The natural question arises, why are we so stubborn about precise form if it restricts you, a strict form cannot be adopted to changing spaces and time?</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Of course, in reality, in real application one must be adaptable, and be able to apply techniques effectively in different ranges and angles, adapting to unexpected circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">No one can use Age Uke or Gedan Barai in real sparring in the same way that we learn it in the basics, in fact, some beginner black belts with very good kata, will have hard time doing kumite, because they try to apply the techniques in a rigid way, like in the basic and kata.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What is basic form?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Best condition for the purpose, including stance, posture, technique trajectory, and line of energy which is included in the final form.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For example, we say “attack from own center to opponent center, and in between movement do not show your center”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For blocking we say “protect your own center (don’t go after opponent’s technique)”, “minimize circle, think of a straight line with a curve, to create side line energy”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We also have a clear standard for certain technique. For example, in Age Uke, center of the wrist should be in line with center of head, and one fist forward and up from the forehead; the elbow should be at ear level and inside the body line. In Shuto Uke, the hand travels from the shoulder to the opposite shoulder line, elbow movement is minimal and elbow points down, when elbow stops it serves as a center of action to elbow extension, and forearm snap at the elbow.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Why is precise form so important?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Remember that the purpose of karate technique, is to produce maximum force with least effort, and the whole body must cooperate to one purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If Age Uke is different every time in the basics, if our imagination, mental picture of what our body is doing, or our techniques are not matching, and if the purpose of what we are doing is not clear, it will be very hard to learn to use the whole body effectively for one purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The basic form is configured to give best condition of mechanical advantage, where it is easiest to learn and internalize principles such as proper sequencing, body dynamics, connection between all body segments, moving from optimal posture, breathing controls and matches technique.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In basic form we perform techniques in biggest functional range, which improves our resilience to injuries and allow us to develop control of power through the full range, and from there we can more easily develop power in shorter ranges.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The ultimate, No Form, not sloppy, do not violate the principles learned from form.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Once we digest the principles, and we “own” the technique, our nervous system is wired to move from the center out and from the ground up, and produce maximal force to many directions, we can and should break away from form and apply techniques freely according to changing circumstances, as long as we don’t violate the underlying principles that we were supposed to learn by training the basic form and techniques.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In application the same technique will be applied differently every time.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Both your mind and movement should be formless and flowing, so one can become the opponent, and apply techniques without fighting the opponent’s power.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At this level, whatever direction your intention is directed, the whole body will produce power effectively to that line.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There is no thought of form, just breathing hits target and the muscles follow.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But there are stages to get to this level.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Form is necessary as it is a mean to learn movement and combat principles transmitted through many generations, while at the same time it is a limitation if one try to use the form as is.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Be precise when you do kata, and be free and flowing when you do kumite (but without getting sloppy), the principles the kata teach us should be applied fully in kumite.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sensei Nishiyama told me that at the begining one should perform the kata precisely and rigidly, (rigidly does not mean stiff, but exact, without deviations). He compared it to a figure of clay that its shape cannot be changed, and as one master the underlying principles of the kata, he can make the kata his/her own, he can be free with the kata, and Sensei Nishiyama compared this to a lively, flexible doll, whose shape can be changed freely.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And then again, when one teaches the kata to a beginner, teach it in the original, strict form as has been transmitted through many generations. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Notice in pictures below:</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Techniques are as big as possible without exposing the center line of the body or disconnect body segments.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Elbow moves minimally in Uke Waza.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When elbow reaches full range, snap action starts (elbow extension and forearm twist) with elbow being action center.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Protect center line and attack from center to center of opponent.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxaFoufWXqiup4gChZ7Sd5VRf2xXDTrojwe9rBg3fZLSiBkp3SOe89Ug7M_Tb-Dogrmcj_YHfwAuHgUtYmp1yQwc5dKqtOUdkTi6vjGsFOzMbbONwsvMv5t9yCtMjUYgxmyX-IUagzJwP/s1600/gedan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxaFoufWXqiup4gChZ7Sd5VRf2xXDTrojwe9rBg3fZLSiBkp3SOe89Ug7M_Tb-Dogrmcj_YHfwAuHgUtYmp1yQwc5dKqtOUdkTi6vjGsFOzMbbONwsvMv5t9yCtMjUYgxmyX-IUagzJwP/s1600/gedan1.JPG" height="320" width="105" /></a></span></div>
Gedan Barai fist starts from shoulder and travels to opposite hip level, elbow moves minimally, and ends inside hip line.<br />
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Gyagu Zuki from own center to opponent's center, and in between do not show your center.<br />
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Uchi Uke - fist travels from hip to opposite shoulder, at end, knuckles at shoulder level, elbow inside hip line.<br />
Area near the wrist is contact area.<br />
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Shuto Uchi - Hand travel from ears, than elbow through the body, elbow stops in front of the body and serves as action center to the hand which travels in a curve to make side line energy, without over exposing the body center, or lose of unity.<br />
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Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-11997401347744047712014-02-13T08:20:00.001-08:002014-02-13T08:20:22.248-08:00Body, Mind and Brain in Harmony<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">In Karate through many generations, the wisdom and the tools were developed and transmitted to achieve harmony in oneself and with opponent.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Those are not beautiful theories only, in karate harmony within oneself and than with the opponent is a necessity. You will get an immediate feedback when facing a good opponent, if you are not "present", and not in harmony.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">This harmony has to be there not only when you lie down on the beach, but when you are on the edge, at extreme situations.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Mind in karate refers to as heart, feeling, intuitive mind.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Harmony in your body means that your body coordinates and integrates, moves in optimal sequences to produce maximum force with least effort, and it instantly follows your intentions.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Achieving this level is a long, unending journey, I will describe some of the tools we use.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">My teacher, Sensei Nishiyama, used to shout at me "don't use eyes", "bypass the brain", and he did not mean that in karate we learn to be stupid and do not use our brains.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">It means that in karate we strive to achieve balance between brain and mind (heart), conscious and intuition.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">We make strategies with our brain, we have to be smarter than the opponent, but when the interaction with opponent began there is too much information and too little time for the conscious brain to handle, and then our knowledge, decisions and actions have to come from somewhere else, we have to tap into a different kind of knowledge. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Our intuitive mind and breath with our previous experiences together have to perceive the opponent, and carry out our actions. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">How do we do that?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">We start by teaching the body to be most effective, moving out of optimal posture, from the ground up, with the the body center as action center and intention center, we don't have arm or leg movement in isolation, even if one finger moves the whole body cooperates.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Step by step we learn to control all phases of technique with the breath to the point that there is no thought of details, there is only intention and breath, the breath is the "trigger" that initiates our action, and also controls the the type of energy in each action, smooth, continuous, sharp shock.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">At the next level, we learn to "catch" the opponent's rhythm and action with our breath, our breathing tunes to the opponent's breath while our eyes observe, monitor, but we do not judge, do not interfere.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">We say "eyes way back" as if looking at a far mountain so the brain will not interfere, and than we can start seeing the cues and information that are beyond the external movement. We are looking to opponent's breathing, and moreover looking to opponent's heart (feeling, intention).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Now our breath controls our body action, and interacts, harmonizes with opponent's breath and rhythm, our breath initiate our action and our breath make the reaction, there is no need for judgement, confirming, which is delaying our movement and cause hesitation, doubt and unstable emotion, it also causes us to get stuck in what we see, in this or other detail, and it blocks are intuitive "antennas".</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Breath reaction is a way to avoid over using the brain, allowing intuitive mind to turn on, and it allows us to give everything without interference of the conscious brain once we move.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">being intuitive means to be sensitive and see all the cues and information that the opponent gives us without getting stuck on one detail or another. It is not some guess nor it is magic, it is being tuned and allows us to use tools that all of us have.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Breath reaction is not enough, it has to work with the previous experiences we accumulated, since with time we face many circumstances and know all the possibilities the opponent has, and also our nervous system is wired properly and we have the skills to handle any attack with ease.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">So we have step by step tools to allow our mind, brain and body to work in unison, but , it is not a math formula, and takes a lot of trial and error, making mistakes and adjusting.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Wayne Gretzki, the hockey great, had it, that is why he could be the best hockey player ever without being the most athletic. But only in karate we have systematic method that allow any person to achieve those levels.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;">In karate we say "think by mind (heart), act by ki (mental energy from body center)", we say "you don't see (with eyes) yet you see (with heart), you don't hear yet you hear, you don't know (with brain) yet you know (with subconscious mind)". and everyone can achieve this level of awareness and intuition with proper training and dedication.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;"> </span>Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-49280184054858397142013-12-20T13:45:00.001-08:002013-12-20T13:45:39.000-08:00Posture actually changes your physiology.
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
karate we know how important posture is for effective movement, and that
posture has psychological effect as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
In good posture, it is easy to control body dynamics, transfer ground reaction
forces through body center to technique, all muscles are in optimal length for
function, and have full potential for contraction/expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
good posture one can be more relaxed, perceived the whole picture rather than
being stuck in details and be more mentally responsive and flexible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
good or bad posture influences how people perceive you and how you perceive
yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
know that a posture shows many things about a person, but does it work the other way? can improving posture
affect your personality?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
new study demonstrates that a good posture, which is expansive rather than
contractive, cause physiological and hormonal beneficial changes as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Humans
and other animals express power through open, expansive postures, and they
express powerlessness through closed, contractive postures. But can these
postures actually cause power? The results of this study confirmed the prediction that being in postures that are expansive and open would cause
neuroendocrine and behavioral changes for both male and female participants:
High-power posers experienced elevations in testosterone, which increases
confidence and dominance, decreases in cortisol (stress hormone) and therefore
response to stress more calmly, and increased feelings of power and tolerance
for risk; people who had contractive postures exhibited the opposite pattern.
In short, posing in displays of power caused advantaged and adaptive
psychological, physiological, and behavioral changes, and these findings
suggest that embodiment extends beyond mere thinking and feeling, to physiology
and subsequent behavioral choices. The study shows that being in open, power
postures for even 2 minutes, embody power and instantly cause one to be more
powerful, it causes real-world, actionable implications. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Power determines greater access to
resources (de Waal, 1998; Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003); higher
levels of control over a person’s own body, mind, and positive
feelings (Keltner et al., 2003); and enhanced cognitive function (Smith,
Jostmann, Galinsky, & van Dijk, 2008). Powerful individuals (compared with
powerless individuals) demonstrate greater willingness to engage in action
(Galinsky, Gruenfeld, & Magee, 2003; Keltner et al., 2003) and often show
increased risk-taking behavior. (e.g., Anderson & Galinsky, 2006). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The neuroendocrine profiles of the
powerful differentiate them from the powerless, on two key hormones—testosterone
and cortisol. In humans and other animals, testosterone levels both reflect and
reinforce dispositional and situational status and dominance; internal and
external cues cause testosterone to rise, increasing dominant behaviors, and
these behaviors can elevate testosterone even further (Archer, 2006; Mazur
& </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next time you go to karate class, treat your posture even more carefully.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
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<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-15955445381685097532013-11-20T15:26:00.002-08:002013-11-20T15:29:56.071-08:00ISKA Masters seminar in San Francisco Nov 9, 10.That was a great seminar with great people, why do I say that it was great? because when I teach and feel that I can go through the small details of Sensei Nishiyama's teachings, and people are attentive and interested, people are absorbed and absorbing the details, than it is a great sign, than we are really learning and not just working out.<br />
When the details and principles are digested, the flashy stuff is easy, and when we push and work hard training is effective, but if the focus is on the flashy, than we are limited to the external and to athletic ability and we are likely to develop bad habits as well.<br />
Thank you guys for such great effort and feedback.<br />
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Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-51637465707669650402013-11-13T21:27:00.001-08:002013-11-13T21:27:26.735-08:00Austria Annual Seminar last weekend November 8-10Austria seminar took place last weekend, November 8-10, this is the 19th year that I am teaching in Austria.<br />
By now, the town of Vienna Neustadt feels like coming home, same cozy hotel and the same person who receives me each year, there is a barber shop by the hotel, where I go to get a haircut every year.<br />
<br />
And most important dedicated karate people that keep searching and improving their karate day by day, it is not their profession but it is their passion.<br />
<br />
We had participants from Germany, Czech Republic, Russia and of course Austria.<br />
We spend significant time practicing details of Kanku Dai as Sensei Nishiyama was teaching it, it was my kata as a brown belt and i used to practice Kanku Dai at least 2 hours a day.<br />
I used Kanku Dai to explain body dynamics, body snap, pressure to floor at kime, and how to make proper contraction at kime and many other fundamentals.<br />
Than we explained footwork of Oji Waza (response timing) and Shikake Waza (set up timing), with focus on Sasoi (invite), Koroshi Waza (cut, kill opponent potential action) and combinations.<br />
<br />
I had a lot of fun sharing karate and good time with my friends.Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-21844936640100689452013-11-07T06:09:00.001-08:002013-11-07T06:09:55.768-08:00Sensei Nishiyama the practical and the philosopher<br />
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
Next week, on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1264660607" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">November 8</span></span>, it will be 5 years to the passing of my teacher, Sensei Nishiyama. He was like a second father to me since we spent most of our days together.<br />Sensei Nishiyama was very pragmatic and a philosopher at same time.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
His greatness was that he merged the old wisdom of Okinawa karate, with the old traditions of Japanese Budo (martial arts) and with latest sport science.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
In his teaching he was very methodical and scientific, and every detail had a reason and had to work and be part of the whole picture.<br />His karate was no nonsense, everything was for application, and every detail meant for more efficiency.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
Over the years he created a clear system that meant to bring the full mental and physical potential of the karateka.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; text-align: -webkit-left;">
<br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When I first came to LA at 1981, I expected hard training, but I also expected karate to be spiritual, and I </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">remember</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> that after my first class, it was the Friday noon class, Sensei told me "put white belt on, step by step, understand?" Only that I did not understand any of that. Sensei "understand" sounded to me like "Zen" and I was walking around all day wondering what words of wisdom did I miss.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; text-align: -webkit-left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Later I realized, that the philosophy that Sensei was taught was in the action, in doing, not in words.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">As realistic as he was, he understood that just because we cannot see or prove something it does not mean it is not true, and as much as science proves many karate concepts, there are concepts that we know to be true from experience, and science cannot yet prove. He taught concepts that were intangible such as "don't use eyes", "think by heart, act by ki", "condense ki energy to body center and than give ki energy from center through contact area".</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
Sensei Nishiyama did not spend a lot of time talking philosophy, for him it was through action that one applies philosophy, he summed his philosophy in few words such as "keep trying", "only dead no come to training", "always do your best", "target is self", "best fight is no fight".</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
If someone talked and didn't do, Sensei would call it "kuchi Waza" (mouth technique), or he would tell me: "when the body does not move, dreams move".</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
He cared about how you bow, because doing it right meant dignity and thanking your partner for being your teacher, being humble, doing it sloppy meant every thing you do follows the manners and will be sloppy.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
One night he made bow for 15 minutes till he was satisfied.<br />He cared that you always respect your opponent in kumite, and never be sloppy "Karate is fighting with dignity, like a samurai, not like Yakuza".<br />He appeared rigid at times, but in a long run he was usually correct, and had reasons, for example one day he came to my dojo, and in the kids class one of the students dropped the belt on the floor. Sensei Nishiyama was upset at that and kept reminding me of the incident for few months, at first I did not understand why he was so stubborn about that belt, but later I understood the importance of that.<br />It is the small details and the way you manage yourself outside of class that will influence how precise and attentive to details you will be in training.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
Sometimes after 5 hours training I was exhausted and slouched and he used to sneak behind me in the hallway and hit my back really hard explaining that I must keep good posture all the time, he said training is only few hours a day, but rest of life is much longer and therefore have much more influence on developing good or bad habits.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
When I was sparring it was not the results that mattered to him, sometimes when I felt that I was doing good, he was not pleased at all "don't do it the convenient way, do it the right way", and that was one of the great lessons in my life, don't look at the results, but rather did you use the right means to achieve the desired result.<br />It is easy to fall into habits, especially when you are advanced and things work for you the way you do them over a long time, but don't be satisfied with that, keep reflecting on yourself and do not lose the fundamental principles to achieve temperory results.<br />It is better to lose in the short term and develop in the right direction than to win and create bad habits along the way.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-left;">
I hear his voice every day in my training, and I actually miss the strictness and the shinai chasing me.<br />Sensei Nishiyama taught me much more than how to fight and be a technician, but he gave me guidelines of how to live my life according to karate principles.</div>
Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-43261181424359975172013-10-16T15:41:00.001-07:002013-10-16T15:41:37.117-07:00First Instructors Only Seminar in Czech Republic<br />
<br />
Last weekend, October 11-13, we had 3 amazing days of deep karate training, about 15 top instructors from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Germany, Austria and Czech Republic participated.<br />
The idea was to keep a small group of high level instructors so we can work on small details, and dive into depth of karate giving attention and correction to each individual.<br />
Sensei Nishiyama had this idea, of teaching small groups of instructors in depth, so they can teach on in their own dojos.<br />
We decided to keep doing this instructors only seminar once a year, and limit it to 25 participants.<br />
We worked for a long time on Tekki San Dan, which is one of Sensei Nishiyama favorite katas, how the inside move and the outside follows, and we applied this idea later to kumite.<br />
We worked to details on Ni Ju Shi Ho, another of Sensei Nishiyama favorites, we worked on details of the outside form, this is a great kata to work on smoothness between techniques, and having no gaps between actions.<br />
We also worked on Chin-Te, with its unusual type of techniques, which is a chance to work on same basic principles in variety of directions, and making our movement vocabulary richer, and enable our nervous system to keep the sequencing in movement even if it is unusual movement.<br />
We spend substantial amount of time working on many variations of Shikake Waza (set up strategies), how to estimate the opponent, bring opponent into your rhythm, and create and seize the chance without space of time.<br />
We went into how to use the distance within each strategy, how to stay calm and sensitive to opponent while setting up. It was lots of fun.<br />
<br />
We plan the next year instructors seminar in Sweden, in the beautiful town of Sigtuna, only a few minutes away from the airport.<br />
<br />
I am so happy that we have such dedicated, passionate instructors, this is how we will keep Nishiyama karate and bring the level up.<br />
<br />
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Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-52693727973697001182013-10-13T10:08:00.000-07:002019-07-13T10:41:43.198-07:00What feels powerful is not necessary powerful.Butch Harmon was chosen as world best golf instructor since 2003 and he said "for longer drives, forget what feels powerful".<br />
I thought that this is really cool, he said the instinct to try to pound the ball of the tee result in what is known as "hitting from the top", which is a power killer because it disrupts the natural sequence of motion.<br />
He said: "if you cannot hold your finish, have a balanced finish, you are going at a speed your body cannot support. Try to go at 70, 80% of your max speed - and get your downswing sequence right, that will give you more distance for sure."<br />
To me this is so simple yet so impressive.<br />
Sensei Nishiyama used to tell us over and over not to use "top power", get the sequence right, each segment from the ground up accumulates maximum energy and transfer it to next segment, to produce maximum total amount of force, the arms and legs of the technique should be merely an extension, making direction, tools of contact and of course the add some to the total chain of energy.<br />
Sensei Nishiyama used to say over and over that what feels strong is not necessary strong.<br />
Go at slower speeds that you can handle to develop proper sequence and than increase speed gradually, do not go faster than your stance could handle.<br />
<br />
Bud Winter was the best sprint coach in US history and he said that he tells his athletes to run at 80 to 90 percent of their maximum speed, and they always ended up running their fastest when they thought this way. Bud Winter was a big fan of relaxing, he requested from his sprinters to relax their facial muscles while they sprint, so the effort is only where needs to be.Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-37278427328050488712013-09-24T16:49:00.001-07:002013-09-24T16:49:36.109-07:00Avoid lapse in attentiveness
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
other day my student Brian Palmer and I were sparring for about 20 minutes. Afterward Brian, who is one of the smartest people I know (and therefore, I
always listen to his comments carefully), told me that he feels that karate is
a great way to learn to keep his attention and focus, when we spar for 20
minutes, the moment he has lapse in his attention, that is when he will make a
mistake and I would get him.<br />
In karate, when sparring, more than anything else I know, if you lose attention, you get immediate feedback.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
But to keep your attention for 20 minutes or more it cannot be forced, it
cannot be an attention with effort, than one will get exhausted and momentarily
lose of focus is inevitable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Focus
has to be relaxed and effortless, I am just “present” and my body will do what
it needs to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How
do we do that? How do we develop that kind of attentive, present mind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
say “as if your eyes are behind you over viewing”, “don’t use eyes”, bypass the
brain”, “don’t look to opponent’s outside (details), but rather look to the
breath and eventually to the heart”, “allow the feet to catch the rhythm and
control own movement, feet are the boss”.<br />
All those directions over time will allow us not only to see the small details
without lose of the whole, but also to keep our attention for long periods,
since we spend minimum amount of mental energy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-51815519199695991902013-08-31T11:46:00.003-07:002013-08-31T11:46:35.658-07:00Oji Waza, how you react is not a (Conscious) choice
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<br />
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Oji Waza is what we refer to as response techniques, or as some
understand it as defense techniques.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many types of timing and techniques we can use to respond and
capitalize on opponent’s attack.<br />
We can use Sen timing and hit the opponent as they intend to attack, we can use
Sen timing while avoiding the line of attack, and this is called Nuki Waza.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We can use timing of Go No Sen and catch the opponent after
first attack and before they can switch to second attack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We could use variety of footwork and technique depending on
the timing, distance and other factors.<br />
We could use Uke Waza, blocking techniques, which is done usually moving in,
attacking opponent’s attack on the way to attacking the body.<br />
We could use Amashi Waza (shifting out of opponent’s range on the way to
counter), Mawashi Ashi, foot circle, or other footwork.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
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It is important to understand that what I do is not a
conscious choice; it is not in the brain, because there is no time for judgment,
analyzing, decision and than movement.</div>
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If I choose what I will do to react, first it takes time and
second I am stuck in my choice and not free to do what is necessary at the
moment.<br />
When the opponent moves, my breath reacts, and my foot is already in motion.<br />
We learn through kata that the breath controls the body center, and the body
center controls our footwork and technique.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We practice many types of footwork, timing and techniques to
respond to different attacks till those become our “body system” or acquired
nervous system patterns, like a software install in the computer (hopefully
quality software).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We face many opponents, and with time we learn that most
people have similar patterns, even though different rhythms, ranges and ways of
executing techniques. As we face many opponents we learn to read the ques that
they give us, we learn to see the “information” that is there before one
initiates this action or another.<br />
We learn to use the eyes less and judge less in order to see more, to become
sensitive to the subtle changes and the inclination of the opponent. </div>
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Finally, when we face an opponent, from our body center, we
already have direction, ki energy projected to the opponent, but our feet are
flexible to move in any direction on the way to hitting the opponent, depending
on how early or late our reaction is and other factors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we get more skilful, the choice of reaction is decided by:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
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<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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of opponents.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We do not consciously choose, when we
react, we don’t know what we are doing until it is done, yet we are aware, there is "monitoring" of self, opponent and the interaction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-19372178066894246892013-07-27T09:57:00.004-07:002013-07-27T15:54:36.180-07:00Todome, Maai and footwork – Components that make karate most effective self-defense<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Todome-</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is reasonable to say that if 120 lb of mass hits the biggest,
strongest man, as one connected, dense mass, with sufficient speed it will be a
knock down or make big damage.<br />
Well, this is Todome, in karate we study through generations the details and means of how to connect the
whole body, increase energy, by using ground reaction, sequencing body segments
from the ground up to increase maximal speed and force and hit the opponent as one
connected mass and deliver the full force in shortest instant, by being as
dense and inelastic as possible at contact.</div>
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We learn how to produce and deliver force in many directions
with many parts of the body.<br />
No other martial art have this detailed knowledge of how to systematically
develop finish technique to the point that even not so athletic, big or strong
person can achieve finishing power.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Sensei Nishiyama used to tell me: “what is the point of
having 8 cylinders if we can only use 2, we must use everything we have” or he used
to say “in karate you do not need to be Popeye”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Maai-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only karate teaches Maai (distance including timing) so
systematically, maybe not all karate, but specifically Shotokan and Nishiyama’s
karate.</div>
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The knowledge of Maai was not very developed in Okinawa and
much of the knowledge was borrowed from sword fighting, Sensei Nishiyama was
one of the important contributers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see as long as I am out of the opponent range of power,
it does not matter how strong the opponent is, being on the border of opponent
territory I can create uncertainty and force opponent to expose themselves by
attacking, hesitating, or even just stiffening, and in the right timing, which
is when the opponent cannot use power, I enter and attack without meeting, or
conflict of power.<br />
Weather the opponent wants to hit you or grapple with you they have to close
the distance and while they use the technique they expose themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most other striking arts understand timing and distance from experience, not from systematic teaching that can save years. Most grapplers do not understand Maai since most of their training is on grappling and not Maai and how to control the distance and timing of entering the opponent space.</div>
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I don’t rush to attack, can stay safe, if the chance present
itself I will attack, otherwise I will force the opponent to commit and expose
themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Footwork-<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Footwork allows me to control the distance to my advantage
and apply technique in perfect timing; it also allows me to start technique
quickest, strongest without any back motion, when the chance appear we must
capitalize without delay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have not seen many other martial artists that can start
technique quick without back motion <br />
Even though many martial arts and sports emphasize footwork, in karate it is
taught to a very high level, we learn the concept of Ukimi, suspending the legs
using the body center, so the spine and body center are controlling the
footwork and making the legs soft and free and footwork effortless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We learn the concept of foot first than body center than
power, which makes shifting much faster and technique more effective.<br />
If your footwork is not good even a potentially fast person will lose a lot of time and
appear as slow.</div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-92055079082199008412013-07-07T19:33:00.002-07:002013-07-07T19:33:25.685-07:00Ho Shin - give your mind away (also, learn to use your full muscles potential)
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<br />
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Once decision is made, there is no mind in the technique, no hesitation, win or
lose one must give everything.<br />
When we can apply this concept and give everything, the mind is clear, there is
no more judgment, and paradoxically we can become more sensitive, more
intuitive, and more aware when we try less.</div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
There is another aspect to it, very few of us are able to
use our full muscles potential, generally we use only small potential of our musculoskeletal system, because of fear, past traumas, protection of the
joints, but hand in hand with the developing the muscles and joints condition,
we develop the mental ability not to hold back to apply ourselves fully to one
purpose.</span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, it is recorded that in each step he takes the reaction back to his body equals over 1000 LB, that is a lot of force production, if an average person did that, after one 100 m sprint it is likely that his/her joints will be damaged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So how does Mr. Bolt does it and how do we in karate learn to do that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am not sure how Usain Bolt does it, one aspect is his form, and maybe he intuitively learn how to give himself totally, 100%.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I will tell you what is the method we use in karate:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><b>Form and sequencing.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">First, we develop proper form and postural alignment, which allows for smooth </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">transmission</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"> of force, and distribution of force through the whole body, not one joint or another.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Than, we learn proper sequencing of body segments to accumulate maximum force, but some people have good form and timing yet the still use only small amount of their muscles potential.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><b>Stabilization strength:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">When we stay in stance for a long time, we develop the smaller muscles closer to the joint, those are the muscles that activate first, before the big muscles, to stabilize the joint, while the bigger, outer muscles are responsible for force production (mainly).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Those stabilizing muscles are design to work for longer periods, and must have endurance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">It shows that when the stabilizing muscles are not functioning optimally the nervous system will not allow for full force production (about 30% less).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Our karate ancestors did not know sport science and the latest research but I guess through experience and correct intuition they developed methods of training that allow us to produce big power safely. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><b>Body center is intention center.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">It is very important that we keep our intention in the Tan Den, our body center of energy. our decision and commitment is not in the brain, since there will always be holding back, conflict in our action if it comes from the brain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Our body center is the intention and decision center, every action starts here mentally as well as physically, this concept has a lot of benefits besides being able to commit totally to one purpose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"><b>Breathing</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Our breath from low stomach activates the center and ground reaction, and allows the whole body musculature to cooperate and allows to maximize the recruitment of muscles in shortest time to one purpose (providing breath, muscles action and external action are matching).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">The breath is also the connection between the mental and the physical, our breath allows us to mentally give every thing so the muscles can follow. There is no interference of the brain, and that is one reason we say in Budo: "there is no mind in the technique".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Or as Sensei Nishiyama used to say: "giving all breath is giving all energy" or "Kiai destroys opponent".</span>Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-13641937076336193892013-06-27T09:48:00.001-07:002013-06-27T09:48:29.485-07:00Russia SeminarLast weekend, on June 21-23, we held a seminar in Moscow, Russia.<br />
Participants came from Germany, Ukraine, and some guys from Siberia took a train for 2 days, I have all the respect for this total dedication to karate.<br />
We worked on fundamentals, such as posture, stance, body dynamics and kime, than kata kitei, as a mean to digest all those fundamentals and apply them in variety of directions, lines of energy.<br />
We worked on finding one's own stance, and connecting the stance to the body center to transfer energy from ground reaction, and connecting the body center to the elbows.<br />
We worked on Oji Waza (response) footwork and timing and applying the principles and methods we learned against unknown attack, by learning to thrust our breath and feet with our experience to make decisions. We touched Shikake Waza (set up), mainly "invite" and combinations attack, and creating and picking the right initial timing for combination attack.<br />
It is important to work hard and intensely but also to know when to slow down and digest the details.<br />
Nothing is more fun than sharing karate.Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-35946306290032828672013-06-16T09:37:00.002-07:002013-06-16T09:37:32.651-07:00Rapid rate of contraction and relaxation in punch or kick.
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The skillful karate fighter is not only strong, but in order
to initiate a punch or a kick can contract muscles with great velocity, and
also relax rapidly, the rate of relaxation is very rapid. The karate expert
must start power generation in the legs through the hips, and as they hips explode the core
contract quickly to transmit the force to the upper body, initial pulse start
with quick contraction, and than the core relax as the punch or kick increase
the velocity until the impact and than to avoid energy leak a second
contraction occur.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Initiate with very quick muscle contraction and a very rapid
muscles relaxation to allow speed increase, and a second sharp pulse of muscles
contraction to deliver the full power.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One must do this using the big muscles of the hips through
the shoulders for power generation, while keeping the spine stable, to allow
full transmission of power, (power is not generated at the spine) to avoid
stress on spine and to allow the spine to be an anchor for the bigger muscles
to be fully utilized.</div>
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Therefore the sequence of contraction is as important as the
rate of contraction.</div>
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Smaller, inner stabilizer muscles contract first, than the
bigger force production muscles.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-4784962434191434532013-06-09T22:21:00.000-07:002013-06-09T22:21:05.883-07:00Give up power to better your technique and better yourself and society.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">In my seminar in Israel
last weekend, I had a little talk with Tzachi, Moshe’s student and Israeli team
member. Tzachi is wise beyond his years, and I learned a great lesson.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The background to this
talk was my emphasis the following lesson from previous training: In kime, we make pressure to the floor
with the breath, and the reaction of this pressure is absorbed through the body
and delivered to the line of technique. No power in the technique arm is
needed, rather, any undue tension in the arm will nullify the effect of the
pressure to floor; it will block the reaction of the floor from coming back to
the target.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">In short, we have to
give up power in order to have a strong technique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Tzachi told me, <b>“In every thing in life, people look for
more power, in politics, in the work place, in relationships between people or
countries, and this is the source of all conflicts. Here in karate we learn to
give up power.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Originally, most people
come to karate to learn to be strong, but we teach them to give up power, to be
weak, not only in technique, but also in the way we interact with opponents. We
don’t compete against one’s speed (not to say that speed is not important, it
is, in addition to skill); rather we win by accepting and harmonizing with the
opponent. We give ourselves to become one with said opponent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It takes hard work to
give up power in technique, to give up fighting with the opponent and to
eventually accept and become the opponent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">A while ago my very
intelligent student, Tamir Nitzan, told me that he feels karate can bring out
either the lowest, instinctive, animalistic side of humans, or the highest, most
spiritual, and most selfless side them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I remember that when I
came to study with Sensei Nishiyama, I just wanted to become a better fighter. That
meant more speed, more power, and of course better technique than everyone else.
I still want to be a better fighter but in a totally different way. My
technique changed once I understood that power is indirect, and my fighting
changed once I stopped trying to fight and rather tried to win through
synchronization with the opponent. This new journey is much more interesting
since it bears no limits while my old journey was bound to the limitations of
strength and speed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">If someone can apply the
aforementioned principles, in the intensity of fighting and survival, if
someone can give himself or herself up while being on the edge, he/she will
have an easier time in other life activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Maybe that is why karate
is an excellent way to better society and the individual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I believe that if
everyone takes the principles of karate and applies them to life and the world,
we will have a better, more peaceful society, with less wars and conflicts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-85393273002599654102013-05-25T19:51:00.004-07:002013-05-25T19:51:38.348-07:00"Keep trying"
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I love this quotation by Thomas Edison "our
greatest weakness is giving up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The most certain way to success is to try one
more time."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Many times when a student asked Sensei
Nishiyama question about technique or express difficulty in getting something
to work, the answer was “keep trying”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sensei Nishiyama was a man of few words (when
it come to karate, he loved to talk when socialized), he said just enough to
give you direction, but wanted you to find out through training. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We must train than contemplate, repeat but don’t
be mechanic, don’t just keep going, reflect on what you do, some of the
understanding can only come through repetition, if something does not work,
figure out what should be done differently, usually the difference is subtle,
and therefore require awareness and openness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">That what “keep trying” means.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428373630806978398.post-89710833817056847742013-05-17T10:29:00.001-07:002013-05-17T10:29:30.209-07:00Poland Seminar, May 11,12, 2013
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<br />
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Last weekend I was teaching the annual international
traditional karate seminar in Dojo Stara Wies, Poland.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had great time; there is nothing more inspiring than when
people have great spirit and genuine quest for knowledge. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were over 250 participants from Poland, Czech
Republic, Russia, England, Lithuania and maybe I forgot some.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We worked on fundamentals such as posture, and stance, body
dynamics, timing of technique, and of course Kime and how to make Todome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Than we worked on Kata Sochin, as a mean to understand the
fundamentals and relationships to applications.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sochin kata has many subtle technical details, but also
requires certain feeling and energy projection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spend a lot of time working on set up strategies and the
subtleties involved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Stara Wiez Dojo is an inspiring place thanks to the vision
of Vodek and collaboration of all Polish karate people.</div>
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The Polish people show us what can be done when people work
as a team, and it is great to see that everyone who comes to camp aside from
being passionate about karate also love to be with each other, like a big
karate family.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Avi Rokahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02742034484829763366noreply@blogger.com0